Mites :(

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

If there has been reports of sudden death it makes me wonder if instructions were not followed properly? Out of curiosity do you have any links to these incidents we could look at to better access the situation?

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Your hunch on that may be correct, or mostly so. While I'm very hesitant to use any sort of pesticide for any purpose, I will say that I remember reading an account or 2 on another forum about the supposed side-effects of using PAM (Provent A Mite), but in each case, the owner had NOT followed the instructions to the letter, & had returned their snake to a slightly damp cage, whereupon the snake suffered neurological issues & nearly died. So any time the subject of mites comes up, I generally repeat the forum-accepted solutions to use PAM (along with soapy water, etc), but I always say to follow directions very carefully & that it's only for the cage, not to be used on the animal. I suspect that not everyone reads all the instructions though? :( I also don't doubt that some animals really ARE more susceptible to injury by PAM though. I would think that some species may be more inclined to be harmed, or maybe just the smaller, younger individuals?

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

If there has been reports of sudden death it makes me wonder if instructions were not followed properly? Out of curiosity do you have any links to these incidents we could look at to better access the situation?

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One was from this forum recently, poor guy (or girl) lost a woma python suddenly and of unknown cause during a mite infestation using pam. I would normally consider this an unfortunate coincidence, but I have heard a few first hand accounts from keepers I have known over the years and have read online accounts of this. I will see if I can find any and I will post them when I do.

Here is the first one I found in a quick search, I can probably find many more.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/thamn...an-killer.html

Now, this is not pam, but its another commonly used treatment for mites, and the main ingredient is the exact same thing.

http://thetegu.com/showthread.php?83...lling-my-snake

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Originally Posted by Alter-Echo

Now, this is not pam, but its another commonly used treatment for mites, and the main ingredient is the exact same thing.

http://thetegu.com/showthread.php?83...lling-my-snake

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Oh geez, that's so sad. But they used it ON the reptiles as well as the cages...:( So no wonder!
I've seen that product (NIX or RID) commonly recommended on another forum too, in the past, for getting rid of snake mites.
Seems like it's just SO easy for the instructions (use on cage only, must dry thoroughly) to get lost in translation online.

Thing is, in the first link I posted they apparently followed instructions and it killed the snake anyway, and with many others I've spoken to in person it was the same way

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Originally Posted by Alter-Echo

Thing is, in the first link I posted they apparently followed instructions and it killed the snake anyway, and with many others I've spoken to in person it was the same way

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I don't doubt that at all. It's just like some humans cannot take certain medications, they react badly to it for whatever reason. When it comes to chemicals used on
any living things, less is best.

Just found mites on one of my snakes as well. I'm moving everyone in that rack to paper towels and giving my gravid female a new container with fresh eco-earth as I don't want to risk it. Infected male is going into quarantine.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Please forgive my skepticism, but how SAFE is Fipronil on snakes? ... This is the
first time I've heard of anyone using Frontline spray on snakes.

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With due respect, just because it is the first time you have heard about it does not mean it is something new. There were articles dating back to the '90s in Reptiles magazine written by vets on the use of Frontline for treating mites and if you listen to the MPR episode where SBK (from the vid above) spoke on this topic you will find out that he learned about it from a vet. Off label usage of medications by vets when it comes to herps is actually pretty common.

If you've owned snakes for any length of time, chances are you've had mites at one time or another or if you haven't you will. My process was this (and it took me the better part of a full day with my collection). I set up two tubs for soaking (one with some dawn dish soap and the other just plain water) and soaked each snake for 15 minutes in each tub. While the snakes soaked I washed all hides and water bowls in hot soapy water. The tub was cleaned with bleach and water. I then sprayed the tub down with PAM and let it dry completely. All racks were also cleaned with bleach and water and sprayed with PAM (snakes were in different room at the time). I say this about PAM (Provent-A-Mite) as I have used it successfully twice during my time owning/breeding Balls. I followed the directions to a T and made sure each and every tub was completely dry before I put the paper towels, hides and water bowls back in. I had no issues with any of my snakes. Everyone is still healthy and doing quite well. I'm not saying anyone whose snake died as a result of using PAM did or did not follow the instructions but from my personal experience, once dry it is no longer a threat to your snakes health.

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Originally Posted by PghBall

once dry it is no longer a threat to your snakes health.

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What about using a spray bottle to raise humidity? Wouldn't this dissolve the PAM residue and possibly harm your snakes?